VCS1748 REDD+ Cambodia

VCS1748 | REDD+, Cambodia is a forest (nature-based) Verified Carbon Standard project protecting biodiversity and supporting local communities.

Project Description: VCS1748 | REDD+, Cambodia

The 445,339 ha project is located in Cambodia’s southwestern highlands in one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots.

It protects a critical part of the Cardamom Mountains Rainforest Ecoregion and is a part of the Indo-Burma Hotspot.

Despite its global importance, it one of Southeast Asia’s most threatened forest landscapes due to deforestation.

This includes both uncontrolled small-scale conversion of forest into agricultural land by migrants and into agro-industrial plantations.

Rural communities depend on small-scale agricultural production but they are experiencing a growing population.

A lack of employment, income and knowledge of improved agricultural techniques drives locals to clear forests to cultivate commercial crops.

The project directly supports the livelihoods of 21 villages in nine communes around the perimeter of the project area.

Eight additional villages in 4 communes are eligible to receive educational scholarship.

These communities represent approximately 3,957 families and 16,495 individuals.

Sustainability Beyond Carbon

There is more to offsets than just carbon.

Each VCS carbon credit is a tonne of verified climate benefit, no matter the type of project.

This carbon offset project provides multiple sustainability co-benefits beyond just carbon and helps link your climate response to improved sustainability.

The project’s actions reduce environmental impacts and significantly increase community well-being.

These include direct employment, alternative income generating activities and initiatives to stimulate investment in businesses.

Additional programs address food security, improve health and education facilities and help raise environmental awareness.

The project’s fully implemented security and law enforcement program is providing significant biodiversity benefits.

A team of 98 rangers and a 25-person community anti-poaching unit patrol the project area, working to stop illegal activity.

The project provides training on improved agricultural methods, support for ecotourism and participatory land use planning.

It protects the critical habitat of 17 endangered and critically endangered species from fragmentation and destruction.

This includes the Asian elephant, Asiatic black bear, sun bear, pileated gibbon, large spotted civet, clouded leopard, dhole, hairy-nosed otter, Siamese crocodile and southern river terrapin.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has also identified the landscape as providing an opportunity for tiger reintroduction.

The project protects these species’ habitat which is also addressing other threats including poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

Want to know more about VCS1748 | REDD+, Cambodia?

The project’s design and monitoring, validation and verification reports are publicly available here: https://registry.verra.org/app/projectDetail/VCS/1748